DALLAS-For the second week in a row, the Dallas Desperados kept their opponents out of the end zone at the very end to preserve a 28-27 victory over the Detroit Drive in a Week 6 AFL game.
The first quarter started out slowly, with both offenses feeling out the opposition. Eventually, Detroit moved down the field, going 68 yards on 13 plays. Patch Brolie ended the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run with 14:16 left in the second quarter to put the Drive up 7-0.
On the subsequent Dallas drive, the Desperados moved the ball 50 yards on 8 plays, settling for a 46-yard field goal by Greg Hall to make it 7-3 with 10:34 left in the half. Detroit would go three-and-out, and Dallas got the ball at Detroit's 43-yard line. But after three plays netted only seven yards, Hall kicked his second field goal of the game, a 53-yarder, to close the gap to 7-6 with 7:29 left in the second quarter. Detroit struck back with an 11-play, 71-yard drive, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown pass by Lou Couch to Vern Kelly with 3:39 remaining in the half to put the Drive up 14-6. Now, it was the Desperados' turn to strike back, as they embarked on a 9-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Heinie Voorhees hitting Clem Shaffer for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Dallas successfully made a 2-point conversion to tie the game with 52 seconds left in the half, and the game was tied at 14 going into halftime.
Detroit began the second half with Couch being intercepted by Otto Scholl at the Drive's 31-yard line. Eight plays and 18 yards later, Hall kicked a 30-yard field goal, his third of the game, to put the Desperados up 17-14 with 11:29 remaining in the third. The Drive would subsequently move the ball 80 yards on 14 plays, the highlight of which was a fake field goal attempt that became an 18-yard pass from Indiana Thornley to Smokey Packer for a first down at the Desperados' 14-yard line. That set up a 14-yard touchdown pass by Couch to Ahmed Sohn on the next play to give Detroit a 21-17 lead with 6:26 left in the third. Dallas' next drive would go 57 yards on 10 plays, with Hall kicking another 30-yard field goal to make it 21-20 with 1:11 remaining in the third.
Detroit was forced to punt early in the fourth quarter, and Dallas took advantage, driving 80 yards on 11 plays. Voorhees ended the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Hawes. Dallas converted another 2-point conversion to go up 28-21 with 7:39 left in regulation. Detroit quickly attempted to tie the game, but Diron Imboden intercepted Couch's long pass at the Dallas 6-yard line. The Desperados went three-and-out, but a short punt and a solid return by Dave Huntley, coupled with a personal foul on Dallas for piling on, put the ball on the Desperados' 18-yard line for the Drive. Six plays later, Couch hit Huntley for a 5-yard touchdown pass. But Cletis Frayer, who had earlier missed a 41-yard field goal attempt, would miss the extra point, and Detroit trailed 28-27 with 2:36 remaining in the game. The Drive kicked deep, hoping the defense would stop Dallas, and Detroit would get the ball back. After giving up a first down, Detroit did force Dallas to punt and the Drive were at their own 41 with 42 seconds left. Detroit managed to get to the Dallas 46 with 4 seconds left. Rather than attempt a 63-yard field goal, Detroit threw it deep and Sohn caught the pass at the 8, but could advance no farther, and the Desperados escaped with the win.
Dallas (4-2) gained 333 yards of total offense. The Desperados ran for 95 yards on 28 carries. Elson Gregson led the team with 59 yards on 13 carries. Voorhees was 23-for-32 passing for 257 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked twice, losing 19 yards. Shaffer caught 5 passes for 67 yards and a TD. Hawes caught 5 passes for 58 yards and a TD. The Desperados are on the road against the Albany Firebirds next week.
Detroit (4-2) gained 437 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 80 yards on 21 carries. Lovell Denson gained 31 yards on 6 carries to lead the team. Brolie ran for 25 yards on 7 carries and a TD. Couch went 29-for-45 passing for 376 yards, 3 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked six times, losing 37 yards. Sohn led the Drive with 7 receptions for 127 yards and a TD. Huntley caught 6 passes for 53 yards and a TD. Kelly caught 5 passes for 66 yards and a TD. The Drive will host the Iowa Barnstormers next week.
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